Tropical depression forms off Carolina coast
Could become Tropical Storm Beryl by evening

Tuesday, July 18, 2006; Posted: 12:29 p.m. EDT (16:29 GMT)

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- The second tropical depression of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season formed off the North Carolina coast Tuesday, and a tropical storm watch was issued for the eastern part of the state.

Meteorologists said the depression could strengthen into a tropical storm as early as Tuesday evening.

Its top sustained wind speed late Tuesday morning was 35 mph. If that reached 39 mph, the depression would become Tropical Storm Beryl.

At 11 a.m. ET, the depression was centered about 220 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras and was moving toward the north at about 5 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

A slow turn toward the north-northwest or northwest was expected later Tuesday or Wednesday.

A hurricane hunter aircraft was sent into the storm Tuesday to acquire detailed information for forecasters, hurricane specialist Jamie Rhome said.

However, early indications were that the system's sustained wind wouldn't reach 74 mph, the threshold for a hurricane.

"We're certainly not expecting anything major, a major hurricane or anything like that," Rhome said.

The early forecast track indicated that the system could drift toward the west and be near the North Carolina coast by the middle or later part of the week, Rhome said.

The tropical storm watch, indicating tropical storm conditions are possible within 36 hours, extended along the coast from north of Cape Lookout to south of Currituck Beach Light.

The first named storm of the June-November Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Alberto, splashed ashore in Florida in mid-June, then plowed northward along the coast past North Carolina's Outer Banks. It was blamed for one drowning.

Experts say the Atlantic Ocean is in the middle of a cycle of increased hurricane activity. Last year, there were a record 28 named storms and 15 hurricanes, including destructive Katrina.

58-4ever

07-18-2006, 12:20 PM

It's funny how tornados and midwesterners have been the focus of comedians' jokes all these years. Actually, I would rather be in tornado alley than on the atlantic coast.

DaKCMan AP

07-18-2006, 12:25 PM

I'm happy where I am. I wouldn't want to be in a landlocked state or a location that has real winters. I love the tropical climate & the beach. :thumb:

This thing, even if it becomes a TS, will be nothing more than a mere thunderstorm.

KCTitus

07-18-2006, 12:29 PM

This thing, even if it becomes a TS, will be nothing more than a mere thunderstorm.

True...it just comes down to the amount of rain. Gaston dumped 14 inches in 2 hours and flooded downtown really bad and it wasnt considered to be a major storm when it moved in.

Garcia Bronco

07-18-2006, 12:38 PM

True...it just comes down to the amount of rain. Gaston dumped 14 inches in 2 hours and flooded downtown really bad and it wasnt considered to be a major storm when it moved in.

Lost my car in that near bottoms up

DaKCMan AP

07-18-2006, 12:39 PM

True...it just comes down to the amount of rain. Gaston dumped 14 inches in 2 hours and flooded downtown really bad and it wasnt considered to be a major storm when it moved in.

This is true. Hopefully it's not a slow-moving storm.

KCTitus

07-18-2006, 12:44 PM

Lost my car in that near bottoms up

that sucks...and I thought I had it bad stuck in traffic on broad street and monument for 4+ hours.

BucEyedPea

07-18-2006, 12:45 PM

Thank heavens it's not near Florida.

Tatertot13

07-18-2006, 01:13 PM

at the time i worked downtown and lived in chesterfield. took me 6 hours to get home that night after work. usually take 30 mins.

StcChief

07-18-2006, 01:27 PM

It's funny how tornados and midwesterners have been the focus of comedians' jokes all these years. Actually, I would rather be in tornado alley than on the atlantic coast.

Been in midwest all my life. I've been close to one once, watch it travel over an open field 1/4 mile away sucking up dust.....

Never evacuated or went to the basement ever.

I guess I just jinxed it.
:banghead:

Was in Houston in 1992 for the storm that went east to Pt.Arther..... Scared the sh1t of me watching it hit from 100 miles away in dead calm.

FLA/Texas and Atlantic coast have been wiped so many times I can't count between tropical storms, depressions, hurricanes.